Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1887-04-07
COTTON SEED OIL.

While ours is government "of the
people, by the people, and for the peo-
ple," II is especially the duty of the
combined authority of the republic TO
guard with jealous care the interests
and welfare of the masses: and in no
dlrecuon Is there greater need tor
watchfulness than in the adulteration
OF articles OF consumption, which is
almost invariably done with intent 10
defraud, and in utter disregard of the
disastrous effects upon health and the
lives OF those who consume adultera-
tions placed upon the market as pure
and wholesome articles. Only a few
months ago attention was specially
directed to vile compound which was
being manufactured from slaughter
house remnants and other ingredients,
and sold as genuine butter. Congress,
however, finally decreed that this fraud
should be stopped, and while not pro-
hibiting the manufacture it declared
that those who made and sold the
bogus stuff should plainly label it, that
purchasers might know what they
were buying.
But hardly has the bogus butter trade
been regulated by law, when Phil. ID.
Armour admits that one-fifth of the
entire cotton seed oil produced in the
United States is used in his factories,
IN the production of lard and other
produets" of the hog-in other words.
he boldly confesses that what he sells
to the people as pure lard is largely
composed of cotton seed oil. with no
doubt other ingredients which he has
not yet made public.
1t is not necessary to discuss the
wholesomeness or disease-dreedinp
qualities of Armour's greasy compound
which he sells for lard, it is enough to
know that it is put upon the market to
defraud the people, and that he is thus
obtaining money by false pretenses:
and when the manufacturer once
resorts to this he retains no 'oualms of
conscience, lest he may use ingredients
which may endanger health, if not
destroy life. The mere existence of
the fraud established, it becomes the
duty OF the government to interfere for
its suppression; for if the issuing of
bogus coin, which merely depletes ones
purse is crime, how much greater
should he be declared a criminal who
defrauds fellow of his money, at the
same time endangering health and life.
The adulteration of food extends
through an almost endless range of pro-
duets, and is clearly prompted by the
greedy avarice of unprincipled manu-
tacturers; and though numerous states
have undertaken to suppress or punish
the evil, they have met with very
Indifferent success for want of the neces-
sary machinery for the execution of
their laws, and for lack of jurisdiction
in accommodating evidence, which is
often to be found in widely separated
states. 1t is evident, therefore, that
the only authority that can effectually
handle and suppress these frauds
against the property and the health and
life of citizens, is to be found in the
Federal government; and among the
early acts of the next session of Congress
should be one which will effeetually
strip the armor from the great Armour
and his associate frauds. 1t is for the
interest of the people at large that this
course be taken, and it should be done
promptly and effectually.-7oled Bee.